Wilderness Society campaign manager Vica Bayley said the Government should withdraw its submission to UNESCO seeking boundary changes. This would prevent causing “pain and embarrassment” to Australia.

The inquiry is expected to run until 3pm today and will hear from organisations including the Huon Resources Development Group, the Tasmanian Special Timbers Alliance, the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre and the forestry workers’ union.

Comments on this story

Andy Bierce of Mangalore Posted at 1:03 PM April 01, 2014

Mark Pearce, Peter James and all others ignorantly citing bogus ownership of natural resources by the present generation. If forested areas (which in legal terms mainly belong to the Crown by the way), can be said to belong to present day Tasmanians then they also belong to Tasmanians in the future. Its mainly for them that we need to make sure that they are not degraded. They're going to get a lot more benefit out of thriving wilderness than some long forgotten sales receipts for wood chips.

Peter James of Hobart Posted at 8:41 AM April 01, 2014

Susannah McMahon - you are incorrect. Under our Federated model, Tasmania belongs to Tasmanians, not the rest of Australia. We do not try and tell you what to do with your coal mines, nor do we try and tell you what to do with your Murray Darling Basin. Your opinion is your own, but it has no influence on what the citizens of THIS state choose to do with OUR resources.

Pete Godfrey of Golden Valley Posted at 8:09 AM April 01, 2014

Robyn Halton, if the special species group was not set up by Forestry Tasmania why was the contact person in the beginning one Murray Jessup who works for Forestry Tasmania's , Island Specialty Timbers branch. And why were respected members of the community who have worked for years to lobby for special species users excluded from membership.
The TSST group are just another front group like the Tasmanian Fine Timbers Chain of Custody group where your joining fee went straight to the Devonport Forestry Tasmania Office.